Latest news with #SportswomanOfTheYear
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Claressa Shields Under Fire After Implying Angel Reese Didn't Deserve Her BET Sportswoman Of The Year Award
Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields was nominated for this year's BET Sportswoman of the Year Award, alongside other superstar athletes, including Sha'Carri Richardson, Simone Biles, A'ja Wilson, Dawn Staley, Juju Watkins, and, of course, the WNBA star Angel Reese. However, after Reese, whose impressive college career at LSU has carried over into her WNBA success with the Chicago Sky, won the BET honor for the third consecutive year, Shields voiced her confusion and frustration on social media. Advertisement After her posts began making waves, however, sports watchers and other online commentators quickly pushed back against her claims, defending Angel Reese and highlighting her many accomplishments in the process. An Olympic Gold Medalist Questioned How Angel Reese Won BET's Sportswoman Of The Year Award Over Her On X, Shields, a boxing world champion, was quick to voice her confusion over BET awarding the Sportswoman of the Year honor to Reese instead of her. "Still don't know how I didn't win the Sportswoman of the Year for the [BET Awards]," the athlete wrote on her profile before adding, "but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees. I just thought accolades mattered." Fans Fire Back At Shields, Defending Angel Reese's BET Win Fans were quick to fire back at Shields with their thoughts on her comments about Reese, with one saying, "Girl, don't get on her complaining. You're talented; don't let that get overshadowed." Advertisement Another wrote, "Sportsmanship applies outside the ring. Queen-up." Other online users pointed out that the award's criteria often extend beyond pure accolades and also recognize an athlete's cultural impact in and out of their sport. "This screams loser," someone commented. "You weren't even 2nd, 3rd, 4th OR 5th runner up. YOU wouldn't have won, [and] there's ladies on the nominee list that have more accolades than you." Shields Offers Clarification On Her Comments About Angel Reese, But Defends Her Position After receiving backlash for her initial post, Shields offered a clarification, insisting she wasn't implying that Reese wasn't a skilled player. Advertisement "I'm saying I thought the person with 'THE MOST' accolades [and] accomplishments would win the Award. I'm team Angel Reese!" she added. The heavyweight boxer's clarification sparked even more criticism, with users even listing Reese's recent accomplishments, prompting Shields to post another statement declaring she wasn't "joining in on any hate train" regarding Reese. "I have mad respect for her and all the other female athletes that excel in their sport," she added. "As for my earlier comments, I am allowed to express my feelings. I was shocked I didn't win. ... It's ok to be a competitor." Reese Breaks Her Silence On Winning SOTY For The Third Consecutive Year On June 10, following the Chicago Sky's game against the New York Liberty, where Reese posted another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, the 6'3" power forward broke her silence on the controversy surrounding her monumental BET win. Advertisement "It's great," she said before acknowledging the commentators suggesting she wasn't worthy of the honor. "I just focus on basketball. I come into work every day and work. I don't complain, I don't care about anything else. I have bad days; I haven't been playing well at all." Reese, whose shooting efficiency has been a point of criticism this year, only connecting on about 36% of her shots from inside the arc, continued, "I take accountability. I come in every day and try and be better than the last. I know my teammates trust me; I know they have my back." "Everything else is everything else," she added. "I'm just here to come to work every day... and be able to enjoy my job." Reese Set Another WNBA Record After Earning Her 30th Double-Double Although the Sky lost to the Liberty by 19 in their most recent matchup, Reese did have something positive to celebrate after the game. Advertisement According to the WNBA, "Angel Reese [became] the fastest player in [the league's] history to reach 30 career double-doubles," securing that notch in only 42 games. A week before that, the basketball player set another record after becoming the fastest player to reach 500+ points and 500+ rebounds in WNBA history, earning that accolade in 38 regular-season games, another strong argument for why she earned her third BET award.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giannis Antetokounmpo Sends Message on Angel Reese, Ariel Atkins
Giannis Antetokounmpo Sends Message on Angel Reese, Ariel Atkins originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky suffered their sixth loss of the season at the hands of the New York Liberty on Tuesday, as Sabrina Ionescu and her teammates bested them by a lopsided 19-point margin. Angel Reese scored 17 points in 31 minutes of play, adding 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Advertisement Despite her consistent performance, she has recently received a significant amount of hate and has often been the target of unnecessary criticism. In response, Ariel Atkins delivered a strong post-game statement. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo applauded her actions on X, saying, "That's a great teammate right there💯💪🏾". "Any amount of (expletive) that she gets on a day-to-day, she still shows up," Atkins said post-game. "So whatever questions y'all got like about our team, basketball-wise, we appreciate it. "But all the other nonsense, like, is she relevant? Like we're here to play basketball and we do know, we're having a hard time right now. At the end of the day, she is just a 23-year-old kid who handles herself with grace. Her crown is heavy." Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) warms up.© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Reese recently became the fastest player in league history to reach 500 points and 500 rebounds. She was honored as BET's Sportswoman of the Year for her outstanding performance in basketball. 'She has to build the wall, she has to have the wall. Because if she doesn't, people will break her down. Not only because of the way she looks, but because of the way she carries herself," Atkins continued. Advertisement "She doesn't just walk around acting like 'I'm this'; she knows who she is, and we ain't gonna break her down for that.' Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo Sends Clear Message on LeBron James This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael Jordan's Former Teammate Sends Message to Angel Reese on Tuesday
Michael Jordan's Former Teammate Sends Message to Angel Reese on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is off to a rough start on the court this season. She's averaging 9.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting only 30.9% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc and 70.0% from the free-throw line. Advertisement The Sky are 2-5 on the season. They got blown out by the Indiana Fever in their last game by a final score of 79-52 at the United Center, with Reese finishing with just four points in 26 minutes. A one-time All-Star, Reese may be struggling on the basketball court, but she's still winning awards. On Monday, Reese won the BET Sportswoman of the Year Award. She beat out A'ja Wilson, Claressa Shields, Coco Gauff, Dawn Staley, Flau'jae Johnson, Juju Watkins, Sha'Carri Richardson and Simone Biles. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese recieved a message from one of Michael Jordan's former teammmates. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images After news began to circulate about Reese winning the BET Sportswoman of the Year Award, one of Michael Jordan's former teammates congratulated the second-year Sky player. Advertisement Etan Thomas, who played two seasons with Jordan on the Washington Wizards, sent a congratulatory post to Reese on Tuesday. Reese and the Sky are back in action on Tuesday when they take on the undefeated New York Liberty. The Liberty (8-0) beat the Sky in their second game of the season by 25 points. Reese struggled mightily in that contest. She had just two points in 26 minutes while going 0-of-8 from the field. Reese hasn't shot over 50.0% from the field in any game this season. It will be interesting to see if she can turn her season around on Tuesday against the Liberty. Related: Angel Reese Reacts to Allen Iverson's Viral Comments About Her This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Fans fume as Angel Reese beats out Coco Gauff and Simone Biles to win prestigious award
Sports fans are fuming after Angel Reese won the 'Sportswoman of the Year' award at the 2025 BET Awards over Simone Biles, Coco Gauff, and more. Reese took home the honor for the third straight year, besting fellow basketball stars A'ja Wilson, Flau'je Johnson, Dawn Staley, and Juju Watkins. Olympic stars Sha'Carri Richardson and Claressa Shields also fell to Reese for the honor. Reese is only one of three women to win the award more than once, with Serena Williams winning it 16 times, and Naomi Osaka taking home the honor twice. Fans were most upset by Reese being chosen over Gauff, who just won the French Open in dominant fashion, and Biles, who has been one of Americas best athletes for over a decade. With Reese having a bit of a sophomore slump in the WNBA, fans voiced their frustrations. Simone Biles was also up for the award alongside A'ja Wilson, Dawn Staley, and a few others 'How did anyone beat Coco Gauff?' one person said. 'She is not a superstar. She is horrible,' a second stated. 'So you don't have to be good at your sport to win this award,' a third person on social media said. 'Nothing but politics gave her that award. I see why he won it but why did she? I guess rebounding your own miss several times must be a skill,' another fan continued. A collection of messages about Angel Reese winning the BET Sportswoman of the Year award Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was named BET's Male Sportsman of the Year over the likes of Aaron Judge and LeBron James. Reese had one of her best games of the season on Tuesday night, as the struggling Sky lost to the undefeated New York Liberty. The Chicago forward had 17 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Sky on the night in both categories.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Rachael Blackmore: A career in pictures as the jockey announces her retirement
Rachael Blackmore has announced her retirement from race riding after a career in which she won most of the biggest races in National Hunt racing, becoming the first woman to win the Aintree Grand National on A Plus Tard in 2021 and completing a clean sweep of all the major races at Cheltenham, including the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Minella Times. We look back through her stunning career in the saddle, which broke new ground at every turn for a female jockey. Early days Jockeys Evanna McCutcheon, Rachael Blackmore, Katie O'Farrell and Aine O'Connor walk the course before the Kildare Ladies' Derby Handicap in 2014. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Making waves Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the 2017 Champion Conditional Rider award at Punchestown. Photograph: Lorraine O'Sullivan/Inpho Rachael Blackmore with fellow jockeys Paul Townend, Mark Enright, David Mullins and Patrick Mullins on Grand National day at Aintree in 2019. Photograph:Making history on Honeysuckle Honeysuckle ridden by Rachael Blackmore stretches clear to win the 2021 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA Wire Grand National glory Rachael Blackmore winning the 2021 Grand National on Minella Times. Photograph:Sportswomen of the Year Rachael Blackmore was the winner of the The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for 2021. Photograph: Alan Betson Hat-trick heroine Rachael Blackmore celebrates after completing a hat-trick of Irish Champion Hurdle wins on Honeysuckle at Leopardstown in 2022. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Back-to-back at Cheltenham Rachael Blackmore after winning her second Champions Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2022. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Flying high with Envoi Allen Winning jockey Rachael Blackmore celebrates with trainer Henry de Bromhead after Envoi Allen's win in thr 2023 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho Champion chaser Rachael Blackmore after winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Captain Guinness in 2024. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
